Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-16

Hon. Leopold Morse, of Boston, has
plan for getting bill reducing the reve-
nue. through Congress. Mr.. Morse is not
a great statesman, hut he is man OF
practical ideas, who has Accumulated a
fortune OF several millions of dollars and
made quite a respectable reputation as
national legislator.
He says that there is not much prospect
OF getting tariff reduction bill through
Congress as long as the different factions
find it to their interest to pretend to stand
up for their respective sections and
for special interests rather than
to legislate for the whole coun-
try. The Republicans won't agree to
anything the Democrats favor, and the
Democrats oppose what the Republicans
suggest. Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Carlisle
want the Democratic party to favor one
thing, and Mr.. Randall, backed by his
little following, wants 1t TO do another.
There is no hope OF agreement upon any
bill that any one Congressman or any
faction Of Congressman is likely TO pro-
pose.
Having reached this conclusion, Mr.
Morse thinks that II the. Secretary OF the
Treasury would prepare tariff bill re-
ducing the revenues, making some con-
cessions to the tariff reformers and some
to the protectionists, cutting down the
customs duties where they are the most
burdensome, and taking of some Of the
internal revenue taxes, and call it the
peoples bill, it would stand pretty
good chance Of meeting with favor from
both political parties and all political
factions.
Mr.. Morse argues that the fact that the
bill would be prepared by one of the lead
ing members OF Democratic admins
tration might cause the Republicans to
oppose it, but he suggests that they might
be placated by inviting prominent Re-
publicans as we'll as prominent Demo-
Gratis to submit suggestions upon which
to base the bill The bill should be
framed as soon as possible, and published
at least two months, Mr.. Morse thinks,
before the meeting of Congress.
The plan of Mr.. Morse's sounds vel,
but it will not bear examination. In the
first place il the Secretary Of the Treas.
bill upon suggestions made to him by
those interested In it he would have time
for nothing else for months to come. He
would get tired of the undertaking before
he got far enough along with it to think
about writing the first line of the bill, If
he succeeded in framing a bill Congress
would treat it just as 1t treats a bill
q n 1Urss cF10u nhn
House would send it to the Committee on
Ways and Means, and the member
OF that committee, feeling indignant
with the Secretary for undertaking 10 do
what they are expected to do, would either
pigeon hole it or so change it that II
would not be recognized by It's author.
The faction and party struggles over it
would be just as fierce as they have been
over either Mr.. Morrison's ar Mr.. Ran.
dalPs bills. When Mr.. Morse thinks over
his plan carefully be will see that it is so
faulty that he will be ashamed that he
ever proposed it.
There ought not to be any compromises
with respect to the tariff. Either the
tariff reformers or the proteotionists
ought TO win the contest that has been
going on so long between them. A CON-
promise does not mean settlement. 1t
means patched up peace which may be
broken at any moment. The views OF
the prOtectionists have controlled the
policy of the nation for long time. The
tariff reformers think public sentiment
has undergone such a change that they
are now In the majority. They, there
fore, want their views to prevail. They
must get majority of Congress and then
the tariff Will be reduced. They have
the administration, and it is probable
they will have the Fifty-hrst Congress.